Lymphatic leakage after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy; presentation, management and review of the literature

The lymphatic system is a vital network of lymphatic vessels that carries liquid fluids, long-chain fatty acids and proteins from capillaries back to the vascular system and clears interstitial debris and bacteria. Lymphatic leakage is a condition not uncommon after many abdominal surgeries. It can lead to immunodeficiency and nutritional abnormalities. Moreover, it has high morbidity and mortality, ranging between 40% and 70%, depending on the presence of an underlying condition. A few lymphatic leakage cases after bariatric surgery have been reported in the literature. We report the first case of lymphatic leakage after sleeve gastrectomy, which was treated with conservative treatment.